Bolstering infra, creating jobs through small industries will be priority: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

Bolstering country's infrastructure and creating jobs through small industries will be priority for senior BJP leader Nitin Jairam Gadkari who took charge as Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Ministries Tuesday.

Kwn for his administrative prowess and invative approach in addressing issues, Gadkari, 62, often dubbed as one of high performing ministers during previous term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, has been instrumental in pushing infrastructure development and reviving projects stuck for many years.

"Bolstering infrastructure under leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be my priority in addition to propelling country's growth rate and creating jobs through small industries," Gadkari who took charge of Ministries said.

He was accompanied by his wife Kanchan Gadkari.

On May 30, he was sworn in as a Cabinet minister after he won Nagpur Lok Sabha seat with a margin of around 2.13 lakh votes by defeating his former partyman and w Congress member Nana Patole.

Wher it's reviving stuck highway projects worth Rs 3.85 lakh crore or starting cargo shipments on Ganga river, Gadkari has been at forefront of infrastructure development. Some of key projects are Eastern Peripheral Expressway and Delhi-Meerut Expressway and Zojila tunnel.

In May 2014, he took charge of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping ministries. He was also given charge of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Ministry from September 3, 2017.

He was also at helm of Rural Development, and Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water and Sanitation ministries from June 4 till vember 9, 2014.